Fasting
with the phases of the moon
It
is not advisable to fast from food if sick, diabetic, under a doctor’s care, or
taking daily medications that require food.
Above
all else... Know Yourself!
In
India, the eleventh day after the full and new moon is called Ekadashi.
There
are two per month, one each in the bright and dark half of the month.
You
count the day after the full or new moon as the first day. Example in 2004: the
new moon is April 19th, the 20th is the first day after, so the eleventh,
Ekadashi will be April 30th. The two Ekadashis in May 2004 are the 14th and the
30th.
Ekadashi
is known as a sacred day. It is believed that loads of negative karmic reactions
are removed if fasting, prayer and meditation is observed on this day. However, Ekadashi is an
individual expression, one that is best approached with sound sense and an
understanding of our personal capabilities.
Choosing
to refrain from food is a physical, mental and spiritual discipline, tapas, that
burns up habits of addictive behaviour. If you are not sure about going without
food or it is not an appropriate day for fasting (perhaps you need to be too
active to go without food), you could use the day mindfully, to tune into
awareness of a habit that you might wish to alter; -
Ř To refrain from watching
television
Ř Choose not to use
electricity
Ř Choose not to speak or try
not speaking excessively,
Ř Perhaps switch off your
phone or
Ř Refrain from texting
These
are traditional days of spiritual quietude when we could choose to be mindful
and seek to engage in peaceful pursuits, where possible refraining from
strenuous work. Nurturing activities include meditation, reading soul-stirring
literature, walking in nature, or enjoying the company of mindful friends.
Fasting:
-
On
normal Ekadashis, fast from beans, grains and cereals
On Nirjala Ekadashi: total fasting including
fasting from water. (Though complete fasting from food and water on every
Ekadashi is highly recommended)
Ekadashi fasting combined with yoga, leaves us feeling vibrant and
healthy, not fatigued. Physically, fasting detoxifies the body, gives the
digestive system a “rest”, and allows us an opportunity to set aside a day of
healing and peacefulness during our otherwise busy lives. From an Ayurvedic
perspective, especially if one is fasting entirely, or even just taking
water, the stools absorb the toxins in the body when fasting. So on the day the
fast is broken it is a good idea to take a gentle laxative consisting of 50-50
warm milk and water, with some rock candy to sweeten it. Generally 4-5 cups are
drunk (up to 7) and within half an hour to an hour one will expel the faeces.
Alternatively
before fasting one can practice one of the Shatkarmas
Laghoo shankaprakshalana, intestinal cleansing with warm salty water
combined with exercises that wash into every pocket of the intestines, which
gently clears out the whole digestive system, leaving the body feeling bright
and wholesome; then, fasting is very easy indeed.
Nirjala
Ekadashi: -
In all, 24 Ekadashi fasts are observed in a year, but there are some Ekadashi
that are relatively of greater significance. Nirjala Ekadashi, observed on the Ekadashi day (11th day) of the bright
fortnight of Jyaishtha (May-June) is one of these. Not only do people
refrain from eating food on this day, but also water. In India the month of
Jyaistha is very hot and the days are long, and so observing fast, without even
taking a drop of water from dawn to dusk means a great act of piety and
austerity. Ekadashi vow and vigil enhances mental equipoise, tolerance and
spiritual powers.
Being near to God: - The Sanskrit word for fast is ' upa-vaas
', which means staying close to God. The original concept of fasting entailed
a deviation from the normal lifestyle and devoting one day to introspection.
The fasting person was supposed to distance himself from the trivia of
day-to-day life and think only about God. As any worldly pleasure would
distract him from this purpose, he was supposed to follow a simple routine.
Hence, rich food was avoided and a simple diet was taken to sustain the body.
The intention was neither to starve the body nor to indulge it.
Mantras
can be used
to help keep the mind’s attention on inner goodness in whatever way you sense
it. During
Ekadashi you might try chanting this powerful Vishnu mantra:
om
namo bhagavate vaasudevaaya
Or you could chant the Hare Krishna mantra since Krishna and Vishnu are one
and the same.
Or chant
with meditative attention on different areas of the body: -
|
Om
Damodaraya Namah |
|
|
Thighs: |
Om Madhavaya Namah |
|
Private Parts: |
Om
Kamapataye Namah |
|
Hips: |
Om
Vamanaya Namah |
|
Navel: |
Om
Padmanabhaya Namah |
|
Stomach: |
Om
Vishvamutaye Namah |
|
Heart: |
Om
Jnanagamyaya Namah |
|
Throat: |
Om
Srikanthaya Namah |
|
Arms: |
Om
Sahasrabahave Namah |
|
Lotus Eyes: |
Om
Paramayogine Namah |
|
Forehead: |
Om
Urugayai Namah |
|
Nose: |
Om
Narakeshvaraya Namah |
|
Hair: |
Om
Sarvakamadaya Namah |
|
Head: |
Om
Sahasrashirshaya Namah |
The Vishnu Puran and
the Markandeya Puran gives detailed description of the benefits
resulting from the observance of Ekadashi vrata.